Method of and apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oils.



E A. JOHNSON 61 W. SNODGRASS.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREAHNG HYDBOCARBON OILS. APPLICATION HLED JAN. n. 191:.

1,283,202. Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

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E. A. JOHNSON 6:. W. SNODGRASS.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBON OILS.

APPLICATWN FILED MN. '7. \SH- Patented 001;. 29, 1918.

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E. A; JOHNSON & W. SNOIIGRASS.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROCAHBON OILS.

APPLICATION FILED MN. I1. I9I7. 1,283,202. Pate ted Oct. 29, 1918.. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 r: w Ak -4 .J'o mo .9

E. A. JOHNSON 8: W. SNODGRASS.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING HYDROCARBON OILS.

APPLICATION man MN. I1. 1911.

' 1,283,202. Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHE 4- .cal manner UNITED STATES PATENT ormon.

manner A. JOHNSON, or WOODHAVIJN, AND wrnnmmsnonoaass, or BROOKLYN,

NEW YORK.

METHOD'OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDBOCARBON OILS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 191s.

Application filed January 17, 1917. Serial no. iia'aas.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that we, ERNEST A. JOHNSON and WILLIAM Sxooomss, citizens of the lfhited States, and residents of \Voodhaven and Brooklyn, in the counties of Queens and Kings, respectively, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Treatingiliydrocarbon Oils, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for, treating volatile hydrocarbon compoundsfrom petroleum residues or pitches which are ordinarily nonvolatile, andconsists in the arrangement of steps of procedure, and COllllJlflltlOIlS and araugements of elements of apparatus, hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the accompanying claims.

The invention has for its purpose to devise a method of treating hydrocarbons in a manner to obtain the maximum yield of its most valuable and marketable product and wherein the process is a simple one and easily performed.

The further purpose of the invention is to construct an apparatus in which the maximum thermal eliiciency of" the fuel is utilized to recover in a rapid and economithe volatile constituents of the oil; and wherein the stills are constructed and arranged in a manner to present the maximumheating surface for vaporization.

The further purpose of the invention is to provide a condensing system in which the vapor products are initially subjected to atmospheric influences to be partially condensed while under pressure, then permit ted to expand for further condensing and finally treated in a liquid-cooled condenser to he finally coudcnseditnd thence collected.

The invention further hasfor another purpose to construct a noveltype of still unit that is adapted to be used in any system for the treatment of hydrocarbon now installed, and the atmospheric condenser is ronstructml to the same end.

The apparatus is disclosed by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation of a portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 2, a similar view of the remaining portion thereof;

Flg. 3, a view artly 1n sectlon and partly in elevationjof t e apparatus taken on the line 3 --3 of'Fig. 1; y a

Fig. 4, a cross-sectional view partly in elevation taken on the line l -4 of F1 {5;

Fig. 5, an order ed detail view, part y 1n section of one of t e still units Fig. 6, a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 7,, a cross-sectional view of one of the tubes of the still unit, and Fig. 8, a de tail view of a portion of the condenser sys tern.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of gasolene from petroleum residues or pitches by pressure distillation, it has been the prac tice, through the t pe of apparatus in use, to distil from the hatch. This method involves a considerable loss of time due to the fact that the large volume of oil contained in the reservoirs or stills has to be heated to the desired temperature and pressure before the volatile constituents of the oil are vaporized and released for condensation.

By the use of the type of apparatus herein employed, a great saving in both time and fuel is effected, due to the fact that reservoirs are used as preheaters or auxiliary stills and are arranged for distributing a large volume of oil over a maximum area through a plurality of still units which form the main still of the apparatus.

Furthermore, by providing a maximum heating surface and utilizing the flames or heated gases to heat both the main and auxiliary stills, it is obvious that the loss of heat is reduced to a minimum, and that by properly regulating the several valves of theisystem it is possible to accurately control' the boiling point of the distillate and thus counteract the effect of uneven firing under the several stills.

Referring to the construction in further detail, the system embodies essentially a furnace structure, a... main still, auxiliary stills, vapor reservoirs and a deposit receptwcle, and atmospheric condensers and a water-cooled condenser, together with their respective auxiliary elements, and inthis order the construction will be now described in detail.

The furnace comprises an soury SL ordinary maeture 1, providing a main combustiou chanil'ier 2, and a pair of auxiliary coniliustion chambers 3 disposed to either side of and above said main chambe' as shown in Fig. 3. The auxiliary chambers 3 are connected to con'in'ninicate with the main chamher 2 through the combustion passa e-Ways t to the end that the products of com ustion formed in the main chamber may be utilized in the auxiliary chambers before passing off through the outlet line 5 to the chimneyflue'tl, as shown in Fig. 4.

A main still comprising a plurality of independent still units is located in the main chamber 2 (see Fig. 1), directly in the path of the flame or heated gases and are disposed for substantially the full length of the fireplace. l lach ol the said units (see Fig. 5} consists of a pair of drums 7 and 8 arranged in axial alinement and connected to comniuuicz'ilc by the sewral tubes fl secured thereto in any approved manner. and the lower drum 9 of each unit has a pair of pipe connections i for coupling to the sen-rill pipe lengths or ran h ll that rd spectirelv communicate with the manitolda 1 located in the chambers l l'ornied in the furnace wall.

The upper series of drums are wholly in closed within a casing; 9 constructed of tire tilt-s or other suitable material to protect said drums and the tube joints from deterioration due to the intensity of the tlame. and said easing forms a ballle wall that as sists in directing the llaine and heated gases into the lire tubes of the several units.

plurality of tllltll-tlltlttl lire tubes ll is mounted in each drum and passed there throu 'h and through the tubes as shown in l*i; "s. ti and 7. and the upper ends ol said tubes are llared r i'unnclshaped as at 1- to better admit the flame or heated gases that pass illl'Ultflllllltl about the lobes. uni lornily throughout their length and alone vsubstantially: the ine indicated by the ar rows in Figs. 1 and 25. l laeh drum is con structed with a uinholeo icning closed by the plates [(3. o ring tit't'ess jo the interior of the drums aid pipe ends litting, repairing or for cleaning.

By constructingthe st ill iinil'saili apair ot upper and lower drums connected to. com

inunicate by a plurality of concentric tubes.

it is obvious that when the space between the tubes is lilled with oil a plurality of lmllow columns of oil are formed and presented t e heated by the direct acti n of the flame or heated gases.

The several units of the still constitute the main distiller ot' the system, and are. located to be heated by the Fuel at its maximum intensity. The products of combustion of lesser intensity are utilized to vaporize the lrvdrocarbon in the auxiliary stills, as heretofore stated.

The auxiliary stills consist of the pair of horizontal cylinders 17, suitably mounted on the several supported members 18 on the furnace structure above the combustion chambers 3, and said cylinders or reservoirs have connnnnication with the two manifolds 12 through the downwardly disposed pipes 19 located preferably at the rear end of the furnace to give easy access to the controlling valve 20 (see Fig. 4) and by which the flow ol' oil from the reservoir 17 to the still units may be regulated.

The combustion products entering the chambers 3 are controlled by the pair of dampers. \':ll\'es or gates 21 (see Fig. 3) that serve to admit such products into said chambers. or to divert the same to pass through the flue 22, leading to the stackllue t1 (see Fig. ll. .\u auxiliary means provided for producing combustion of fuel in the two chambers fl and consists of a plurality f pipes 23 provided with aperllllt; or burners: of suitable type and which communicate with the supply pipes ll and 2 l ading to the source of oil or gas and air under prwsurc res n-ctii'ely.

'lhe generated vapors from the units of the main still are collected in a vapor resen i'oir it (l ies. l and ii mounted on a Silperstructure 27 supported by the furnace walls and communicating' with the several drums T of the units by the vertically disbosed l il connections 29 and 9 that are respectively connected by the elbow or swing joints 30 to allow for expansion and contraction. as will be understood. deposit drum i] is located below the several drums 8 (it the units (Rec [*igs. l and 3). and cone niunicatcs therewith through the pipe connections 32. and such deposit as collects therein is adapted to be carried oil" through the pipe '13 by the pump 3t. and a cooling coil 33 in the tank 3t; connects with said pipe 3 1 and with the pipes 37 (one being! shown) leading to the bottom of the an); iliary stills 17 for a like purpose. The pipe 33 is suitably provided with controlling valves 38 and 3D. and the pipe 37 is likewise provided with valves 40 and 41. The position of the several ali'es (38, 39, 40, 41) allows of collecting the sediment in either or both the main and auxiliary stills as dcsired.

.The vaporo from the reservoir 26 collect llr'lllfi drum'42, from which a dephlegmator or runhaclc43 inclines upwardly for carrying the vapors therefrom to the condenser (see Figs. 1 and 2). and in like manner ltlt.

dephlcgm tors (notshown) convey the vapors collected in the drums 44 on the auxiliary 17 to the distilling a )paratus. 'lhc'drumdQ is provided with a an cty valve 45 ,to relieve excessi'vc pressure in the drum and the drums of the auxiliary stills wouldbe in litre manner equipped. 'lhe eondensating apparatus consists of an 4 having a suitable gas-check atmospheric condenser or radiator, and exansion tank, and a water-cooled condenser that are connected to communicate with the dephle mator 43 through the pipes 46 and 47, in t e manner shown. The highly volatilized oil vapors will pass from the-dephlegmator into the atmospheric condenser through the pi e 46, and the passage of such vapors are a apted to be manually controlled by the hand-operated valve 48. The

ipe 47 is provided as an emergency relief, and through the hand operated valves 49 and 50 the emergency relief is controlled when occasion demands.

A pressure gage 51, which indicates the vapor pressure, is mounted on the dephleg mator in closenroximity to the atmospheric condensers, as shown in Fig. 2, and a tem perature gage (not shown for indicatin the temperature in the still 15 also employe The atmospheric condenser or still (see Figs. 2 and 8) consists of a pair of drums or manifolds 52 and 53 in superposed relation and connected to communicate by a pluralit of relativel thin and exposed tubes 54 t at are rea ily maintained constant with the temperature of the atmosphere. A third drum or manifold 55, disposed adjacent the drum 52, is connected to communicate with the upper drum 53 by the series of bent tubes 56 similar to the tubes 54:.

The partially condensed vapors pass from the atmospheric condenser into an expansion tank 57 that communicates with the drum 55 through the manifold piping 58, having controlling valves 59 and 61 which are utilized to control and maintain the desired pressure in the stills, de hlegmator and atmospheric condenser. ipe connections 62 and 63 connect the tank 57 to communicate with the atmospheric condensers associated with the two auxiliary stills. The tank 57 allows the partially condensed vapors to expand and be further condensed before entering the coil 6* of the liquid-cooled coudenser 65 to be finally condensed. The coil of the liquid-cooled condenser is of any suitable construction and communicates with the expansion tank 57 through the pipe 36 and directly with the dcphlcginator i3 through the emergency relief pipe 47, as above indicated.

The finally condensed vapors are collected in the receiving tank (58 through the pipe (:9 which relieves the gas pressure which is liable to accumulate in the coil 64 and obstruct the action of the apparatus, and said receiving tank is fitted with an outlet pipe 71 leading to an accumulator, and a test tap 72 is also provided to test the products of condensation when desired.

In operation, the stills are filled through suitable manhole openings 73 on the auxil iary stills from the pipe 74, leading to the pipe line or other source of supply, and the several units of the main still are filled with oil through the manifolds 12 and feed pipes 19. The condensing system is closed until the proper temperature and pressure have been reached in the and due to the greatly increased surface presented to the flames or heated gases, it will be evident that the oil will begin to volatilize in a relatively short period and that the lighter constituents wil begin to be liberatecl.

When the predetermined temperature and pressure have been reached, the controlling valve 48 is opened so that the vapors enter and traverse the cooling tubes of the radiator transferring their heat to the Walls thereof, a portion of the higher boiling point fractions being thereby condensed and caused to drain downwardly into the dephlcgmator and returned to the still to be again treated. The desired portions, however, pass through the radiator in the form of a cooled and partially condensed vapor and by manipulating the control valves 59 and 61 the vapors are permitted to flow t0 the expansion tan 57 where the temperature and pressure are reduced, thus increasing the condensation effect upon vapors therein. From the expansion tank the vapors pass into the watercooled condenser where they are finally treated and then collected.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangementof parts without departing from the spirit of our invention, and therefore We do not wish to be limited to such features except as may be required by the claims.

lIVhat we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. The process of treating petroleum hydrocarbons, which consists in producing an upwardly-flowing hollow column of oil of substantially constant cross-section, then subjecting the interior and exterior of the column substantially uniformly throughout its length to a current of heat to obtain a high temperature and pressure to produce mixed vapors, leading the vapors of distill-m tion from the column to an atmospheric condenser to be partially. condensed by radiation, releasing the partially condensed vapors to expand, finally condensing the products by liquid cooling and collecting the products of condensation.

2. The process of treating petroleum hydrocarbons, which consists in supplying hollow columns of oil from a source of bulk supply, then producing a flow-path for a heating medium leading successively into heating relation with the exterior and interior of the columns and the bulk supply source, whereby the oil delivered to the columns will be preheated, maintaining both main and auxiliary stills,

ill]

the bulk supply and. hollow columns under vapor pressure to produce mixed vapors, leading the vapors of distillation from the columns and bull; supply to a. condenser and collecting the products of condensation.

3. The process of treating petroleum hydrocarbons, which consists in {u'oviding a bulk supply forming an auxiliary heating station, fcedinp the material from the bulk supply to the main heating station in the form of a plurality of sets of hollow columns of oil, heating said columns at said main lation by passin; a heating medium around the exterior and then through the interior of the columns and then directing the heating medium to the auxiliary station to heat the bull; supply, and nriint'aining both the hol low iolurnns and bulk supply under vapor prc are to proihure llllXlJLl vapors,

i. In the process of treating petroleum hydrocarbons to produ mindensation prodnets, the method of producing vaporization of the oil which consists in distributing the oil into a plurality of |1pwardly-flowing hol low UUlHHllH sub ecting the exterior and in terior of each column to the action of heat. currents to produce temperature and pro sure conditions or the production of mixed gases therein, eolleeting the vapors from the several columns, and condensing the vapors.

5. In apparatus for treating lrvdrocarlmn and in combination, a piurality of still units each formed to distribute the oil in upwardlyflowing hollow coluiun formation, means for producing vaporiziup action within a column by subjecting its opposite walls to heating temperatures. a vapor reservoir eonnnunirating with said unit's through restricted mssage'wa vs a dephlegmator iii-- (lining upwardly from the reservoir for carrying vapors therefrom, and a condenser in communication with the depblegmator.

t In apparatus for treating hydrocarbons and in eonibiuation. a plurality of still units each Formed to distribute the il in up nardlvtiowing hollow column formation, means for roduring vaporizing action within a column by subjecting its opposite walls to heating temperatures, a vapor reservoir ronnnunimiting with said un ts through res stri ted passageways, a dephiegrnator inelinin; upwardly from the reservoir for careving vapors therefrom, an a nn'isplleric condenser ronnnuni ating with the dephleginator to reeeiv the vapors therefrom, and a liquid-cooled condenser in contri'illable ronanuniratiou will: the dephleg'niator and the atmospheric condenser.

T. ln apparalua {or treating hydrocarbons. a still unit. adapted to distribute the oil into hollow column formation while undergoing vaporization and romprising pair of drums t-ornerted liv tubes opeirendvd tubespass;- ing through the ri'sperliv tubes and said drums and adapted to form passageways for products of combustion, in eolnbination with a vapor reservoir, and a condenser connected to and adapted to communicate with the reservoir, said drums being arranged in vertical axial alincnient, said reservoir being positioned above and operatively connected with the upper drum by a restricted passageway.

S. [n apparatus for treatinghydrocarbons, a still comprising a plurality of still units each adapted to distribute the oil into hollow column formation while undergoing vaporization and each consisting of a pair of drums, tubes connecting tl1 drninu, said tubes being externally exposed in the flow path of products of COIHlJllSi'lOH, and openiaided tubes passing through the rcnpective tubes and drums and forming internal passageways for the products of combustion, in ombination with a vapor reservoir common to and ernnmnnicat ng with the several still units, and a condenser connected to coinniunicate with the reservoir, said units being arranged in parallel arrangement with the drums in vertical axial alinelnent, said reservoir being positioned above and operativelv ronnectetl with the uppermost drums of the several units through restrictive passage av.

E i ln apparatus for treating hvdrocarbons, a plurality of substantially nonwonnunnieating still units each adapted to distribute the oil into hollow column formation while undergoing vaporization, a vapor reservoir common to and eommunicatin with Sttlil. IIIHiS. said reservoir being positioned. above th hints and rolnniuuu'atinetherewith through wstrieted passagewavs, a mndenser coliner'led to ronnnunieate with the H'HPI'VOiL and a deposit drum located below and in l'lHlHlHlll ronununit'ation with the several units.

10, in apparatus for treating hydrocan boos. a furnace st ructurin a plurality of parallel still units located in the (runbnstion chamber of the furnace structure and successiiel v in the direction of [low of the fuel pulses said units each being formed to prm ville oil distribution in the form of hollow and continuous columns of oil whil passing; through said chamber. in combination with a vapor reservoir having restricted connnunication with the several still units, and a condenser connnanicat'ing with the reservoir.

llQln apparatus for treatinp hydrocarbons; a furnace structure ha ring a coinbuetion chamber and a channel spaced above and in eornniun'ieatiou with said chamber, a plurality of Still units extending vertically through and exposed to the produ ts of combust ion of said chamber and open to said channel to provide a plurality of internal passagewava for the products ot combustion Ill) through each unit, said climnber and channel both in open communication with the source of products supply, each unit having means to distribute the oil in the form of hol- 10w columns during vaporization and While passing through the chamber and including a pair of axially alined drums, a casing separating said channel and combustion chamber and adapted to segregate the uppermost drums of the units from the chamber, and means common to the several units for successively collecting and condensing the vapors produced by the stills.

Signed at borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, this 15 11th ilay of January, A. D. 1917. 

